China: Gay Man Sues Government for Recognition of Marriage Equality Group

The LGBT activist, Xiang Xiaohan, is the first gay man to do so. Xiaohan had attempted to register his group, Same-Sex Love Assistance Network, as a non-governmental organization (NGO) but his application was denied. In response, Xiaohan filed a defamation lawsuit in February but the case was thrown out of court earlier this month.

The BBC reports: Xiang Xiaohan filed the lawsuit in the provincial capital, Changsha, after the Hunan government turned down his application to register his organisation. In a written reply to him, the local government said homosexuality had no place in Chinese traditional culture and “the building of spiritual civilisation” – a catchphrase in modern China for what many believe is the party’s indoctrination. “I believe what the government said [in the reply] defames the reputation of the gay and lesbian community in China, and I want them to issue a written apology,” said Mr Xiang.